Back in October, when I asked you guys what you were most interested in talking about, many of you had questions about characters. Which is great, because the importance of crafting good characters really can't be overstated. Last week I was talking to my mom and she shared that she was reading a book she didn't like. "You know what I finally decided?" she said. "I don't like any of the characters. I think I'm just going to stop reading it."

Every book should have one main character. That's right - one. As in uno. As in lone. As in the only main character. Your main character determines the way the plot will develop and is (usually) the person who will solve the problem the story centers around. But it's also very important to have a great cast of secondary characters as they supply additional details, explanations, conflict, and so forth. A couple things we'll cover are making your characters necessary to the story, how to name your characters, combining roles, how to make them sound different, and so on.

Setting

The setting is, obviously, the location of the action. And some are more unique and memorable than others. Like an enormous chocolate factory or a giant peach. I adore Roald Dahl. We'll also talk about historical settings, research, etc.

Plot

A plot has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Many newbie writers develop only their main character's plot, but every character in your novel should have their own plot and we're going to talk about it. (Okay, don't take that to the extreme. Like the teacher who has one line doesn't need a plot, but your antagonist and secondary characters need to have things happening as well.)

Conflict

James Scott Bell (I like his books, so you'll be hearing his name a lot on here) says Concept + Character x Conflict = a Novel. Without conflict, you have no story.

Resolution

The solution to the problem the main character has been trying to solve. A satisfying ending takes work, care, and patience. Ever read a book with an unsatisfying ending? Yeah. Annoying, isn't it? We'll talk about happily ever afters and mostly-happily ever afters and maybe even some not-so-happily ever afters.

So as you're looking at your idea, make sure you've covered your basics.

Q:So you ALL think books with 2 main characters are to confusing?I know that I was reading The Mother-Daughter Book club (Dear Pen Pal)today and she divides the books into 4 seasons and then gives each of the four characters a"chapter".It was kind of confusing.And I do think that if it's going back and forth like one main character then the other that it takes me a couple chapters before I get into the swing of things.The way I was writing my book originally was with 2 characters.But now the story is changing some and I am not sure.Worst part right now is the plot.I can't decide :(Sierra

While there are certainly exceptions, a traditional novel has only one main character. Now, maybe it has one main character and a really, really prominent secondary character, but typically just one MAIN character. The character whose change propels the story.

Like Nicole, the thought of a plot for the other characters has never occured to me before. It gives more depth to the characters themselves, doesn't it? Like you actually get to hear about their live and stuff and they don't just help the main character with their's!

Personally I just find it absolutely FUN to create backstorys for my secondary characters =D Its awesome.And it gives me a more "personal relationship" with them if you will. One character is a guy and I feel really attached to him, he's a complex and kind of a "figuring out what he wants" type.and not so sure if he wants to be on the bad side or the good side... (this is a fantasy book i'm writing)

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